It Don't Mean a Thing
Yvette Cason Lyrics

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It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

It makes no diff'rence
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

Overall Meaning

In "It Don't Mean a Thing," Yvette Cason is singing about the importance of rhythm and "swing" in music. She asserts that if a song lacks swing, or a certain groove that encourages movement and dancing, then it is essentially meaningless. Cason uses the doo wahs throughout the song to mimic the swing that she is referring to - the upbeat, syncopated rhythm that is essential to jazz and other swing-based genres. She argues that it doesn't matter whether a song is slow or fast, sweet or hot; as long as it has swing, it is worth listening to and dancing to.

Line by Line Meaning

It don't mean a thing
If something doesn't have swing, it's meaningless

If it ain't got that swing
Swing is the essential element that gives value to something

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

It don't mean a thing
Again, if something doesn't have swing, it's meaningless

All you got to do is sing
Swing can be achieved through singing alone

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

It makes no diff'rence
Whether it's sweet or hot doesn't matter

If it's sweet or hot
Referring to music, it doesn't matter what style it is

Just give that rhythm
What matters is giving the piece of music rhythm